Resources

Here are the steps to join Equally Well:

1. 1. Read and experience Ngā Waka o Matariki Māori health strategy.

   2. Read the Equally Well consensus position paper.

   3. Sign up for the Equally Well newsletter, to stay in touch with news and events

   4. Email the Equally Well backbone team, and include the name of your organisation or if you are joining as an individual, and confirmation that you have the authority to give formal commitment (for an organisation)

   5. Wait until the backbone team gets in touch with you to confirm your champion status

Supporting physical health equity requires both system-level action across multiple sectors and organisations, and action within local primary care and mental health and addiction services. Below are some stories of collaboration within the Equally Well space.

• An expert advisory group convened by the Equally Well backbone team, published a position statement in January 2021 stating there is strong evidence to support adults with mental health and addiction issues being prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination. You can read the position statement here.
• Continued scanning by collaborative members looking for opportunities to influence policy change, has resulted in the prioritisation of physical health equity for people with mental health and addiction issues in the Ministry of Health’s cardiovascular disease risk assessment guidelines, the cancer national action plan, and the COVID-19 vaccination sequencing framework.
• The Ngā Waka O Matariki strategy and framework was created by a collaborative rōpū, seeking to inspire Equally Well champions to take action to change the status of whaiora Māori health.

• Create and action your own Equally Well action plan.
• Be an active and passionate Equally Well champion, and advocate for physical health equity.
• Share resources you have found to be useful, with the collaborative and your wider networks on your website or send to the Equally Well Backbone team to share on this website.
• Take leadership on an Equally Well action.
• Be part of an Equally Well action hub.
• Let the backbone team know how you think you can help.

We are not the only holder of Equally Well information, our collaborative partners have information on their websites as well.

Other resources related to Equally Well can be found at the Te Pou website. These resources include:

• An evidence review and update on the physical health of people with a serious mental illness and/or addiction (2014, 2017)
• An evidence update on achieving physical health equity for people with experience of mental health and addiction issues (2020)
• An evidence update on COVID-19 risk for people experiencing mental health and addiction issues (2021)
• Organisation and service self-assessment tool